Senior Specialist: Operational Risk at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Seeking a strategic, seasoned and experienced Operational Risk Senior specialist to lead and embed robust operational risk management practices across the organisation.
• This senior-level role is accountable for driving the identification, assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of non-technology and non-cyber operational risks, ensuring alignment to the enterprise risk and resilience frameworks.
• This position plays a critical role in strengthening the Business Unit's Control Environment through oversight of risk events, breaches, dispensations, and waivers; delivery of deep dive reviews, thematic issue analysis, root cause assessments, and emerging risk identification. The role will also provide leadership in risk-based process mapping, enhancement initiatives, mitigation planning, and tracking.
• The incumbent will lead the coordination of critical risk activities including RCSA's, KRI's, Operational resilience assessments (OHS/BCM), Combined Assurance integration, and the preparation of executive and committee-level reporting. They will also contribute to shaping the Business Unit's risk appetite, materiality thresholds, and classification frameworks.
• This is a high-visibility role requiring strong stakeholder engagement across senior leadership, risk forums, and assurance functions. A solid understanding of digital and business transformation environments is advantageous.
• The ideal candidate will have 3–5+ years’ experience in operational risk management within financial services, with a proven track record of delivering strategic and tactical risk outcomes at senior levels.

Job Description

• Ready to step into a high-impact role where your operational risk expertise will shape how we protect and grow our business?
• We're on the hunt for a Senior Operational Risk Specialist — someone with a sharp eye for risk and a passion for strengthening controls and processes across the business.
• This is not your average risk role.
• You’ll be embedded in the engine room of operational risk, driving proactive risk management across the enterprise — minus cyber, tech and change risk. We’re looking for someone who thrives in complexity and brings structure, insight, and resilience

What you’ll be doing:

• Managing operational risk end-to-end (excluding cyber, technology, and change risk)
• Handling dispensations, waivers, breaches, issues, and risk events
• Conducting deep dives, horizon scanning, and identifying emerging risks
• Performing root cause analyses and thematic issue identification
• Tracking and monitoring issues to closure
• Leading process mapping, enhancement, and risk mitigation planning
• Supporting Combined Assurance as the point of entry
• Contributing to OHS, BCM, critical process reviews, and operational resilience
• Facilitating RCSAs, KRI development, and appetite threshold design
• Conducting reconciliations of risk events, quality assurance, and 2nd line reviews
• Preparing and presenting to Risk Committees (decks, papers, minutes)
• Supporting risk classification frameworks, materiality thresholds, and governance
• Staying ahead with industry trends and insights

What you bring:

• 3–5 years in an operational risk role in banking or financial services
• Deep understanding of the ERMF/ORMF and regulatory landscape
• Proven experience in risk management frameworks, analysis and controls
• Skilled in report writing, stakeholder engagement, and executive-level communication
• Experience in risk tools and systems (GRC platforms a plus)
• Knowledge of digital processes and risk in digital environments (bonus)

You’ll thrive if you are:

• Proactive and curious — always two steps ahead
• Structured, analytical, and detail-oriented
• A confident communicator who can hold their own in committee forums
• Able to simplify complex risk topics into actionable insights
• A team player who enjoys solving problems collaboratively

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

End Date: July 17, 2025